Nano Technology Promises Better Batteries and Fuel Cells

Nov 7, 2007 3:46 PM
by David Morrison, Editor, Power Electronics Technology

QuantumSphere, a manufacturer of nano metals and alloys, has been awarded a U.S. patent for its method of manufacturing advanced nanomaterials. Metals and alloys produced in this process are ultrapure, highly uniform, and less than 50 nanometers in size. These qualities result in highly active materials with high surface area, which the company says will cut costs and enable dramatic improvements in battery and fuel cell electrode performance and on-demand hydrogen generation. The Santa Ana, Calif.-based company says the first impact on its technology will be on primary batteries, where new cathode materials will triple the power delivery of zinc air batteries.

The recently awarded U.S. Patent No. 7,282,167, “Method and Apparatus for Forming Nanoparticles,” covers QuantumSphere’s QSI-NanoGas Phase Condensation (GPC) process of manufacturing nano metals and alloys. According to the company, the QSI-Nano GPC process, allows for volume production of highly active catalyst materials that improve electrode performance in batteries, fuel cells, and on-board production of hydrogen through electrolysis for plug-in hybrid vehicles.

The company describes its manufacturing process as automated, scalable, and environmentally safe. Moreover, the process is said to be the first in the industry to make ultrapure, highly uniform and narrow-sized distribution particles without the use or production of hazardous chemicals or gasses (see the figure).

“In our experience, other methods for making nanomaterials to such exacting measurements proved too costly, too labor intensive, too inconsistent or unsafe,” said Kevin Maloney, president, CEO and co-founder of QuantumSphere. “The key to our company’s patented process is the ability to make commercial volumes of nano metals and alloys in a fully automated and scalable manner while maintaining size and purity.”

The QSI-Nano manufacturing process is computer controlled and fully automated, allowing continuous production of high-quality materials and a significant reduction in costs for the fabrication of nano metals and alloys.

“This manufacturing process has been perfected over five years to the point where it now yields several kilograms of materials per reactor, per day, in a manner that is safe to employees and the environment,” says Maloney. “This ability enables us to supply multiple mainstream industries with nano metals and alloys at low cost. The QSI-Nano GPC process will be instrumental in fulfilling our company’s vision of enabling cleaner renewable energy sources for our future.”

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© 2007 Penton Media, Inc.